Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1887-03-09
PATRIOTIC IRISHME EN-.
CELEBRATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF
EMMET'S BIRTHDAY.

Hampstead Uashburn's Speech Relating
to the Irish Rsce-He is Followed by
Mr.. Wilhere, Who Gives Him Some
Pointers In Irish History-Irish Citizens
of America.
CHICAGO, March Central Music ball
was comfortably filled Friday evening with
patriotic GriShmen accompanied by their
wives, daughters, and sweethearts, who had
aSsemb ed 10 celebrate the l09th anniversary
of the birth of Robert Emmett. On the stage
hack of which were draped the American
and Irish flags, were many prominent Irish
Americans. There was several speeches
made by freshmen and then after Professor
George Vinton had delivered Emmets last
speech Hampstead Washburne was, intro
duced. He began by saying he would speak,
as an American, of the Irish race as he knew
it, The ancient history of Ireland first oc-
cupied his attention. He traced it up to the
present day, and said Ireland was now the
home of poverty, the cradle of patriotism,
and the graveyard Of martyrs The Irish
man in America was described as length.
The Irish immigrant, said the speaker, whss
he comes ~ America, crowds into
the greaS cities There he often
falls victix' % the designing politi-
clan, and III many other ways is led into sx-
cesses which cause hiS. ~ 81 compared with
other nationalitieS to his disadvantage. And
vet no one had ever Questioned the fidelity OF
the Irishman to his adopted country. The
speaker dwelt eloquently upon the war rec
Old af 1~e Irish volunteers during the rebsll-
ioH branching into the puasi-political po-
Sihon of the lrishmen, be urged his hearers
to preserve the purity of the ballot and to
appreciate the honor of American citizen
ship.
Mr. F. Nihere, Of Philadelphia, then took
the floor, AMI said the observations of Mr..
WaShburne called for reply. They had baen
told that their country WAS i'll state of
semi-barbaris,a 81 the time of the Roman
invasion OF Great Britain. Mr. Wilhere
hotly repIi lated this, and declared that the
mereSt ScAUoioOy, who had even the slightest
acquaintance with Irish history, knew that
it was a. tie time tle seat of learning, AMI,
in fact, Of the arts OF war and peace. The
military nature AMI the high train
ing Of the Irish race at that time
were of such character as L hold the
invading Rom ms i'll awe of item. These
meetings, Nc Nilhere declared with some
aSpeCItv, W, ve Use. III, if it were only to give
some aspiring Americans little insight int<
Irish history. They lad heard much from
American statesmen in denunciation of ur
fortunate lrishmen who might be tempted to
throw q little dynamite, but they never
heard anything against the evictions and
other outragas perpetrated by England in
the law. The Irish citizens of America were
tired Of beng lectGred upon the necessity Of
holding American institutions, which they
had always proved themselves ready to do.
Hall the army Of independence was composed
Of Irishmen, and when anarchy had to be
put down il Chicago HiShmen were the first
to shed their blood in defense of law, order,
and liberty.
The Hon. Ii. J. Cannon of Iowa followed
in the same strain. Irishmen, he said, were
sick Of being told that they were in this coun-
try on suferance. If they wanted to play
game they could have done SO successfully
under English rule long ago. All they had
to do was to declare the Episcopalian church
was right, that Queen Elizabeth was saint
st. Patrick was a scoundrel [Iaug hterl, and
they could have all they wanted. But thank
God they had never done that in England
and they would not do it now in America.
Although the audience had enthusiastic
ally applaulel Mr.. Washburne's spesch, it
as warmly applauded the utterancss Of the
two last speakers in their attack on him.
plauded ostentatiously, while the Hon.
Mathew O'Doherty of Louisville nearly
wrung the hand off the Hon. Wilhere of
Philadelphia, in congratulation, on the stage
after his speech.
Mr.. Washburne left the hall Immediately
after his address.